Marko, Lauda, criticise delayed qualifying

  • Published on 03 Sep 2017 12:23
  • comments 2
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Dr Helmut Marko and Niki Lauda have criticized the decision to delay qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix. On Saturday, running in Q1 was postponed after five minutes when it was deemed the track was too wet to drive on. Romain Grosjean was the only driver to crash out under the conditions, spinning out down the main straight.

The session was then delayed for two and a half hours while the conditions settled, and Marko, who heads Red Bull's young driver programme, was not impressed: "We have the best drivers here, the best chassis and the best tyres," he said. "If Grosjean goes out, that is not meaningful as all the others did not.

His fellow Austrian and F1 legend Lauda, meanwhile, said the real problem wasn't the FIA's caution, but the constant 15-minute delays that ultimately added up to a more than two-hour wait for action: "It was just boring and pointless," he said. "I'd like to have seen a sensible decision for the whole sport and the spectators."

Kevin

Posts: 5,341

I couldn't agree more with Marko. What does it matter if Grosjean crashes? It was his own stupid mistake, as all the others managed to stay on track. F1 has become over cautious and it doesn't do itself any good. Fans enjoy seeing the cars drive in wet weather, see the drivers struggle and proof ... [Read more]

  • 1
  • Sep 3 2017 - 13:51

Replies (2)

Login to reply
  • Kevin

    Posts: 5,341

    I couldn't agree more with Marko. What does it matter if Grosjean crashes? It was his own stupid mistake, as all the others managed to stay on track. F1 has become over cautious and it doesn't do itself any good. Fans enjoy seeing the cars drive in wet weather, see the drivers struggle and proof their skill in levelled playing field. FIA is taking that away.

    • + 1
    • Sep 3 2017 - 13:51
  • mbmwe36

    Posts: 533

    I agree, F1 has become castrated. On Danish TV one of the former racing drivers mentioned a while ago that they had so-called monsoon tires while driving in Japan, which could move a shit load of water. They could make something similar for F1.
    Now, whenever they take to the track these days, it literally only takes 3-4 laps before they need to switch to inters, which is absurd.

    • + 1
    • Sep 3 2017 - 14:04

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
-
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
-
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team -
  • Points -
  • Podiums -
  • Grand Prix -
  • Country FR
  • Date of b. Apr 17 1986 (38)
  • Place of b. Geneve, FR
  • Weight 71 kg
  • Length 1.8 m
Show full profile
show sidebar